Response to "Are Retinal Examinations Useful in Assessing Cardiovascular Risk?"

Are retinal examinations useful in assessing cardiovascular risk?

To the Editor: The results from the VAMPAHICA Study Group presented in the article “Usefulness of Optic Fundus Examination With Retinography in Initial Evaluation of Hypertensive Patients.” provide evidence that the use of retinography would increase the proportion of people classified as being at high risk of developing a major cardiovascular event within ten years.1 However, the study does no...

Retinal Microvascular Response to Short-Term Exposure to Particulate Matters As an Indicator of Cardiovascular Effects in Work Environments

Introduction: According to the literature, Central Retinal Arteriolar Equivalent (CRAE), Central Retinal Venular Equivalent (CRVE), and Artemio Venule Ratio (AVR) are three important markers in determining the changes of retinal artery. These markers are employed as an indicator of cardiovascular effects in workers. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in retinal micro vascular responses in...

Commentary: assessing the risk of violence--are "accurate" predictions useful?

New cardiovascular risk factors exist, but are they clinically useful?

There is substantial interest in identifying new risk factors for cardiovascular disease, to improve our understanding of disease biology and to account for the cases of heart disease that cannot be explained by known risk factors. Investigation of putative risk factors frequently involves the study of circulating biomarkers. In recent years, a spirited debate has arisen regarding the validity ...

Screening for breast cancer: how useful are clinical breast examinations?

Is it really useful to perform clinical breast examinations (CBEs)? No one will dispute that a woman presenting to her physician with a self-detected breast lump is likely to receive such an examination before being referred for diagnostic mammography. But how useful is it for physicians to perform CBEs in a preventive or screening mode? If they actually believe the somewhat dubious assertion t...